Apple-Cinnamon Filled Oatmeal Bars

These bars are a nice treat. They are simple and delicious.

You will need a 9"x13" baking pan.

The oven temperature is 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients:

 

Crust and topping-

2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal( either quick cook or regular)

1-1/3 cups brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup(2 sticks) butter

Filling-

3-4 medium size apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

1/4 cup water

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves( or, if you prefer, nutmeg)

In a large bowl, mix the flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking soda.

Cut the butter in the flour mixture until everything is crumbly.

To cut in, use a fork, pastry blender, or work it in with your hands.

Remove 1 cup of the mixture and set aside.

Press the rest into the bottom of the cake pan.

Start preheating the oven.

In a medium saucepan, combine the filling ingredients.

Bring it to a boil.

Turn the heat down and cover.

Let it simmer for 10 minutes or until the apples are tender.

Take off the heat and spread the apples over the crust.

Sprinkle the reserved flour mixture over the top of the filling.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

Let cool to slightly warm before cutting.

If you want a small pan, halve the recipe and use a 9" square pan.

Enjoy!

Apple Upside Down Cake

 This isn't the upside down cake you are probably used to seeing. It has apple instead of pineapple. It would also be great with peach.
It is so yummy!

You will need a 9" square pan.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients:

CAKE-
1-1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg


TOPPING-
1 large apple, peeled and sliced OR 2 smaller apples
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons lemon juice

To make the cake, put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat on medium until the batter is smooth.
Set aside.

For the topping, pour the butter into the bottom of the baking pan. Tilt the pan to coat the whole bottom.
Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Sprinkle evenly over the butter.
Lay the apple slices over the brown sugar mixture.
Sprinkle with the lemon juice.

Pour the cake batter over the apple slices and spread evenly.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when stuck in the cake.

Lay a plate or flat pan (that is bigger than the cake ) over the cake pan and invert.
Leave the pan for a few minutes.
Lift off pan and cake should be on the plate.

Serve warm or cold. Plain or with whipped cream or ice cream.

Serves 9-12.

Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

This pie is AMAZING! It is like eating a pumpkin pie and an apple pie at the same time.

You can make it with a streusel topping or forgo it and serve with whipped cream.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
You will need a 9" pie pan. A deep dish preferably.

Ingredients:

Dough for one 9" pie crust

FILLING-
1 cup cooked pumpkin puree
1 cup apple butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup milk

STREUSEL TOPPING- OPTIONAL
3 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans-optional

Roll out pie crust dough and put in pie pan.
In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, apple butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Stir in eggs and milk.
Pour into pie crust.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
If not using streusel, take pie out of oven and let cool on wire rack.
If you plan to use the streusel, make that while the pie is baking.
For the streusel- stir together the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter til mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the optional pecans.
After the pie tests done, take the pie out of the oven and sprinkle with the topping.
Bake for another 15 minutes.
Remove to a rack to cool.

Serves 6-8.

All American Apple Pie

I have always been a huge fan of apple pie. It is one of my top two favorites.
I prefer a butter crust for this pie. But, a simple shortening pie crust tastes marvelous here too.
It isn't super simple but the results are worth it.

Ingredients:

Dough for a double 9" pie crust

5-6 apples, cored, peeled and sliced- you will need to have 8 cups sliced apples
1 Tablespoon lemon juice, optional
1/4 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Make the dough for the pie crusts and wrap and refrigerate while making the apple filling.

Put the sliced apples into a large bowl. Sprinkle with the lemon juice, brown sugar,cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss well.
Let it set for an hour to bring out the apple juices.

Take the pie dough out to soften.

Drain the juices into a small saucepan.
Add the butter.
Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
Swirl the liquid so it doesn't burn, but you don't need to stir.
Reduce the liquid by about half.
Put the apples back into the large bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch. Toss till cornstarch is blended in.
Add the reduced liquid.
Toss well.

On a floured counter, roll out the bottom crust.
Add the filling.
Roll out top crust and lay it over the filling.
Fold the top down under the bottom crust and press to seal.
Crimp the edges with fingers or a fork.
Cover with a towel and refrigerate while preheating the oven.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take the pie out of the fridge and brush the top with milk.
Sprinkle with sugar.
With a knife, make some slashes in the top to let steam escape.

Bake for 45-55 minutes or til the apples are tender when pierced with a knife and the juices are bubbling thickly through the slashes.
After 30 minutes protect with a pie shield or foil ring.

Let rest for a few hours before serving.

Serves 6-8.

Apple Butter

I just love, love, love this apple butter. It is different than your store bought variety.
But, if you love apple and cinnamon(and who doesn't?) than this apple butter is for you.
It is super simple to make too.

You will need a large pot for cooking.
You will need 4-5 pint jars with flats and rings.
A water bath canner.


Ingredients:

8 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 cup apple cider vinegar
4 cups brown sugar
4-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Combine the applesauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in your large cooking pot.
Bring to a boil over medium heat and turn down to low, stirring very frequently.
Cook until the butter reaches desired consistency. This will take probably 45 minutes.
It is important that you keep it stirred so it will not burn.
Remove from the heat and put into the prepared jars. Seal.
Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.